Activation process and absorption/desorption of hydrogen isotopes were studied for Zr-Ni alloys by Means of XPS-SIMS and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Alloying of Ni to Zr gave rise to considerable modification of the getter properties: it caused the changes in the activation temperature, the activation energy for hydrogen absorption, the heat of absorption, selective pumping property, and the kinetic isotope effect. The results indicate that one can develop Zr-Ni getters applicable to the various unit processes in the fuel handling systems of thermonuclear reactors.